A government-drafted legislation that would significantly expand social insurance protection for Gulf citizens working outside their home countries within the GCC is set to be debated by MPs.
The draft law approves amendments to the unified GCC system for extending social insurance coverage.
It aims to strengthen insurance protection for GCC nationals employed in another member state by introducing unemployment insurance, widening coverage, modernising subscription collection methods and enhancing co-ordination between civil pension authorities and social insurance agencies across the region.
Services committee chairman MP Mamdooh Al Saleh said the bill represents a major step towards labour mobility and social stability within the GCC.
“This legislation reinforces the principle that a GCC citizen should enjoy full social protection wherever they work within the Council states, as if they were employed in their home country,” he said.
Under the revised system, unemployment insurance will be added alongside existing retirement, disability, sickness and death coverage.
Employers will be legally required to register employees, deduct their contribution share, pay their own share and remit all subscriptions through approved banking or digital payment channels.
Mr Al Saleh noted that the amendments close long-standing procedural gaps.
“The absence of clear mechanisms for collecting subscriptions had created administrative challenges in the past. The new framework introduces binding obligations on employers and enables social insurance bodies to operate more efficiently and transparently,” he said.
The law also strengthens co-ordination between insurance authorities in the country of employment and the worker’s home country, ensuring timely data exchange, updated records and uninterrupted coverage when employment status changes.
Parliamentary committees have broadly endorsed the proposal. The legislative and legal affairs committee confirmed that the draft law is constitutionally sound, while the financial and economic affairs committee said it would not result in a direct financial burden on the state.
The Social Insurance Organisation (SIO) has also backed the amendments, stressing their role in protecting citizens and encouraging cross-border employment within the GCC. According to data submitted to Parliament, thousands of Bahrainis are currently insured under the unified system in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
Trade unions welcomed the move, describing it as a positive step towards safeguarding workers’ rights, while pensioners’ groups said the changes would help sustain insurance funds and improve long-term financial stability.
The amendments stem from a decision by the GCC Supreme Council at its 45th summit in Kuwait in December 2024, reflecting a unified regional approach to labour protection.
“If approved, this law will enhance job security, social reassurance and economic integration across the GCC,” Mr Al Saleh said. “It sends a clear message that the Gulf labour market is becoming more cohesive, fair and resilient.”
&uuid=(email))